CHAPTER XXII. 



Crustacea (Crabs and Shrimps). 



The dark, mysterious world of waters hides many a 

 "moving creature that hath life;" and the solitary pacer 

 along the black line of sea-weed that bounds the domains 

 of earth and sea, or the curious Paul Pry that is ever and 

 anon peering into nooks and holes and crannies in the 

 surge-worn rocks, is continually surprised by some strange 

 being, some minim of existence it may be, uncouth and 

 slow, or lithe and elegant, and rapid as lightning; dull and 

 sombre as suits its obscure retreat, or bright and gaily- 

 tinted from the solar ray ; some new combination or modi- 

 fication of organs; some novel exhibition of instinct, habit, 

 or function; that awakens his admiration, and, if he be 

 accustomed to turn from the creature to the Creator, 

 elicits the tribute of praise to Him who made all things 

 for His own glory. 



The Crustacea pre-eminently make the waters their 

 home ; they are the aquatic division of that mighty host 

 of living things, that range under the title of Articulata. 

 The Insects, Spiders, and Mites, counting their armies, as 

 they do, by hundreds of thousands, leave, with scarcely an 

 exception, the sea untouched ; and though a goodly num- 

 ber of these are found in the fresh waters of river, lake, 



